Machine for operating upon shoe soles



4 Sheets-Sheei 1 Filed May 23, 1946 s ng in 2/8 71 for fi ugene clfiay Jan. 18, 1949. RAY

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHOE SOLES Filed May 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 In wen for Eu ge Jan. 18, 1949. E. J. RAY I 2,459,179

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHOE SOLES Filed May 23, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor" Eugene c/Tfiay 22' A522) may Jan. 18, J, RAY

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHOE SOLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 23, V 1946 M %W 0 P mm 2 z a 0 4 z w W n w I w e I V e 0% E F, m %/j W0,

fir-neg Patented Jan. 18, 1949 UNETED STATES. PATENT QEFHQE MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHOE SOLES Application May 23, 1946, Serial N 0. 671,862

8 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for operating upon unattached shoe soles and it is herein disclosed as embodied in a machine for performing such operations as edge setting or edge trimming. In machines of this character it is desirable to feed the sole with its periphery pressed against an operating tool or against both an operating tool and an edge gage. In some cases also the sole may be fed with its periphery pressed against an edge gage while the tool operates upon the marginal portion of the upper or lower face of the sole. Inasmuch as the thickness of the sole at its periphery varies locally from relatively thick in the forepart to relatively thin in the shank portion, the pressure which is developed against the periphery of the sole by the tool or the edge gage should be varied accordingly. For example, the pressure which is suitable for the relatively thick forepart might in some cases cause the relatively thin shank portion to buckle or curl over. The feeding device should, therefore, be controlled in response to the local Variations in thickness of the sole.

For an example of a machine having a work feeding mechanism of this type, reference may be had to United States Letters Patent No. 2,357,337, granted on September 5, 1944, upon the application of Harry Lyon. This machine is provided with -a driven feed wheel which is so arranged as not only to advance the work past an edge-setting tool but also to urge the periphery of the sole against the tool to develop the necessary operating pressure. This feed wheel is controlled by a device responsive to the thickness of the peripheral portion of the sole to vary the degree of pressure exerted upon the sole. The controlling device disclosed in the patent to Lyon is actuated by the edge-setting tool itself, which is of special construction to enable it to respond to variations of thickness, and it portions of the sole an additional force derived froma solenoid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine having the desired feeding characteristics which is simpler in construction than previous machines and in which the additional feeding force is applied more yieldingly and also in which the control of the additional force is effected directly by the rise and fall of the feed wheel without requiring a tool of special construction. In accordance with a feature of-the invention, the additional force is derived from a spring thereby rendering the feeding action at all times yielding. As shown herein the feed wheel is held down against the sole by a compression spring arranged at all times to exert downward pressure regardless of the thickness of the work and it is also held down throughout the upper range of rising and falling movement of the feed wheel by the added pressure of a second compression spring which, however, is not operable upon the feed wheel throughout the lower range of its rising and falling movement.

These and other features of the invention will best be understood from a consideration of the 0 operates to apply to the feed wheel. at the thicker following specification taken in connection with the acocmpanyinng drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of an illustrative machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a portion of the machine adjacent to the operating tool looking in the direction of the axis about which the work table may be tilted;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fi 1;

Fig. 6 is a view in axial section of a heating unit in relation to an edge setting tool; and

Fig. 7 is a plan View showing a sole on the work table engaging the operating tool and the edge gage.

The work engaging instrumentalities of the illustrated machine consist of a tool 2!], a feed wheel 22, an edge gage 2d, and a work table 26. The tool 2% may be either an edge trimming cutter or an edge setting tool, or it may be any other type of tool designed for operation upon the periphery of an unattached shoe sole; it is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as an edge trimming cutter. The feed wheel 22 is arranged to advance the work while at the same time holding it against both the tool 20 and the edge gage 2 5 with a definite pressure. The direction of feed of the work piece is determined by both the tool 26 and the edge gage 25, and the direction of movement of that portion of the feed wheel which engages the work piece is oblique to the direction in which the work piece is constrained to travel. Because of this obliquity the iorceeXerted upon the work piece by the feed wheel may be resolved into two components, one of which lies in the direction of feed and the other of which is so directed as to cause the work piece to press against the tool 25; and the edge gage, The second component is often referred to as a component of cross feed. The feed wheel 22 is provided with edged teeth 28 adapted to out into. thesurface 3 of the work piece and thereby obtain a feeding grip upon it. The teeth 28 are not parallel to the axis of the feed wheel but he in planes which are inclined to the axis, each at an agle of about 15.

The supporting structure of the illustrated machine comprises a hollow frame or housing 30 shown fragme'ntari'ly in. the drawings. -Upon the frame 30 are mounted a gear case 32 and a bracket 35 for purposes which will hereinafter be explained.

The tool 2% and the feed wheelz f-Z are' -both driven from a source of power, not shown herein, which may for example consist ofa motor housed within the frame 36. The drive is icon'duct'ed to the operating members by s beItEt running over. a pulley 38 which is secured upon a horizontal shaft til. A second pulley teasecured upon the shaft til drives a sharpening device through a belt M. This sharpening device, which is not shown herein and which is of no interest in connection with the present invention, may be used to grind the'teeth oran edge trimming'cutter. Theshaft 40 isjournaled' 'in' bearings 46 securedin the gear case 32. Secured upon the'shaft 40 is a spiral gear 48 which drives a' spiral gear-t secured upon,

a'vertical shaft 52 j'ournaled' in bearings 5e in the gearcase '32. "Secured uponthe upper portion of the 'shaft 52 is awornfttwvhich drivesaworm wheel 58 mounted 'on'a horizontal shaft 66 journ'aled'in'bearings 62 inthe gear case "32. The shaft "50 through a universal coupling "iltdrives a shafted .up'onthe outer end'of which is secured the feed wheel 22.

Uponthe'lower end ofthe shaft ez is a pulley which drives a beltll' running" over a' pulley "l -i. Journaledin bearings it in the bracket 341s a vertical shaft '58 upon the lower end of which the pulley "M istmounted. The tool. 2?! is secured" upon the upper'end'ofthe shaffllB. It'is sometimes necessary when"ichanging' from one source' bf power'to another, or whenv substituting "for the tool 26a tool of.diiferent character, "tovary the speed'ratio between the pulleys "14' andiii. This may require an adjustment of the shaft iii toward :or from the shaft "EZand incrder to accommodate such adjustrn'e'nt the bracket "34 is clamped tot'he frame'i-ldby screws "Bil extending throughslots 82" in the base of the bracket-B l, A tongue 84 (Fig. 3) depending from the bracket 3t engages aguidewaylldwig'; 5)'-"on"theframe to the toolllil, notwithstanding the adjustment of the" bracket 3d, the feed wheel and the edgegage as well as the'tool are'all supported by the'bra'cket 3d. To';provide 'for such supportpf the feed wheel and the edge gage a rightanglebracketdlt (Fig. 5)' having a tongue and groove connection L83 with a lug .89. on the bracket i341 isclarnped to 'the' lug "89 withprovision 'for horizontaladjustmerit in a direction transverse to'the axes of the shafts liland Why a screw t'ext'ending through a horizontal'slotti in the bracket 35. "Extending upwardly'from'ithe bracket '86 'and securedthereto by a clamping screw '92 is 'aibracket' 94. A tongue and groove "connection Qii, between the bracket tfl and thbracketlfifi;guidesthe bracketfi l' for hori "zontal" adjustment in a" directionparallel to the axesoftheshaftst'fl and'iiii. "The clamping screw 92;passing'through "a slot il8'in the bracket 85 to accommodate such adjustment, secures "bracket itin a djusted'positron. Uponthe upper 'endpf the" bracketM is formed "a head "F86 'in-the the form of a horizontally extending plate against the lower face of which is secured a bracket Hi2. A fulcrum pin IM, in the form of a shouldered stud upon which is thereaded a clamping nut illii, perniits limited angular adjustment of the bracket it? about a vertical axis relatively to thehead we. "The bracket 3?. can be secured in av desired position of such adjustment by a clamping screw M26 threaded into the bracket W2 and passing "through an arcuate slot it formed the head 6.

51h nidle i it to facilitate turning. Depending from the bracketiilz are a pair of spaced ears 2 52 (one fIi-ie clamping screw m5 is provided with a of ivh'rchiisf'seen'in 1) which supporter pair having aprdetermined thickness.

nf-diametrically .opposed trunnion pins iii (see also Fig. 2) upon which is pivotally mounted a yoke-shapedframe lit which is formed to provide .a- -lbearing sleeve l 98 for the. shaft iil which carries the feed wheel 22. By reason of this construction the frame H6 is free to swing up and down about the axes 'of the trunnion pins lid enablin'g'the'feed' wheel 22 to rise and fall in ace cordance 'w ith'vari ations in the thickness 'ofthe' work piece. The'frame Ht may also be adjusted horizontallyabout the axis of the pin' Hi4, thereby enabling the'feed'wheel 22 to be adjusted toward orfrorn the tool 2&3. 'The purpose of this adjustment is'to en'ablethe feed wheel to be positioned !32 which extends-downwardly through the bottom ofthe lug "H8. The lower-end of the spring I26 similarly bears'a'gainst a head 134. formed on"'a' plunger [35' extending downwardl through. I

thebottom of the lug I 28. -Threeded'downwardly into the bore which houses the spring i2 3, and

surrounding the upper 'portion of that spring, is I a hol1ow='screw' lat-having a knurled head M The screw l38when turned adjusts the cornpressi'on of thespring 124. 7 A similar screw "I42 havinga' -knurled head-M4 is provided. for adjustingithe compression ofthespring I26. Threaded int'o thebearing sleeve liebeneath the plunger i '32 is ascrew M6 having an enlarged head M8 which serves as an abutment for the'lower end of the'plunger I32. 'A'similar screw 55!) having an' abutment' head F52 is threaded into the bearing'sleeve "H8 beneath' the plunger I35. The screwsMB and i 59 maybe turned b inserting a suitable tool: in'radial-holes formed in their heads, the adjustment being such as to provide for Ien- 'gagement of the plunger-l32 with the head M8 whenever a Work piece, however thin; is resting onthe workt'abledfi. The'head 552- of the screw 1501's adjusted somewhat lower to avoid engagement withthe plunger 535 except when the feed wheel- '22'bears upon a' portion of the work piece In order. to limitthe'downward movement of the feed wheel out-he work table;thereisprovided a stop screw i 'fidiFig; v1) threaded 'th'roughalug lEt extend- "ins"hdrizontally' froni the bracket 8 3.; Thelower end of the screw. I54 is provided with a knurled head I58 and the upper end bears against an under surface of the bearing sleeve II8.

Extending laterally from the bearing sleeve I I8 is a lug I60 (Fig. 2) in which is formed a slot 202 extending parallel to the axes of the shafts 40 y and 60. sition in the slot by a screw IE4 is a lever I68 from one end of which depends the edge gage 24. The opposite end of the lever IE8 is in the shape of a sector and in it is formed an arcuate sl'ot' ed at their lower ends into a clamping block I13.

The work table 26 (see Fig. 4) has secured against its under face by countersunk clamping screws I14 a depending bracket I16 which has an arcuate tongue I18 engaging an arcuate groove I80 formed in a bracket I82. The axis of the arc of the tongue I18 and the groove I80 lies in the upper surface of the work table 26 and extends at an angle of about 45 to the longitudinal center line of the machine. This axis passes just within the periphery of the tool, being almost tangent to the tool, at the locality at which the operation is performed. The work table 26 may be secured in any desired position of angular adjustment about this axis by a clamping screw I 84 threaded into the bracket I82 and extending through an arcuate slot I86 formed in the bracket I18. The work table 26 may therefore be secured in a horizontal position as shown in the drawings or it may be adjusted to a position of downward tilt about said axis. The work table 26 extends close to the tool 20, having an arcuate portion cut out to accommodate the tool with a minimum of clearance. This portion of the work table is formed with an undercut bevel, indicated on Fig. 4 by the reference numeral I81, to

Adjustably clamped in any desired poenable it to clear the tool when the table is tilted.

The bracket I82 has a tongue I88 which engages a complemental groove formed in a lug I90 extending laterally from the bracket 34, this tongue and groove arrangement serving to guide the bracket I82 for heightwise adjustment on the bracket 34. A clamping screw I92 extending through a slot I94 in the bracket I82 and threaded into the lug I90.secures the bracket I82 in any desired position of heightwise adjustment. A screw I98 threaded downwardly into the bracket 34 and having a knurled head I 98 which engages a notch formed in the bracket I82 enables the bracket I82 to be adjusted conveniently up or down when the clamping screw I92 is loosened. In Figs. 4 and 6 the operating tool is shownasf an edge setting tool 20' in place of the trimming cutter '20. The edge setting tool 20' has 'a'hub I99 which fits the reduced upper end portion of the shaft 18, and it hasan annular operative portion 20I which is of greater diameter than the hub. This operative portion 20 is integral with the hub and it extends from the upper end thereof. The edge setting tool 20 is clamped upon the shaft 18 by a screw 200 and by a washer 202 which bridges the annular space between the shaft 18 and the annular portion 20I of the tool; by tightening the screw 200 the hub I99 is urged against a shoulder on the shaft 18.

Some edge setting tools must be heated,'and to provide 'for such tools the illustrated machine is equipped with an annular heating element 204 in which are embedded electrical resistancemem-' bers 206 supplied by electrical leads 208. The heating element 204 is below and coaxial with the tool 20', surrounding the hub I99 with a clearance space between it and the hub. The'heating element 204 is mounted upon a horizontal plate 2 III by means of tabs 2 I 2 extending inwardly from a cylindrical shield 2 I4 which surrounds the heating element and which is secured to the plate by has a depending portion which is secured to the v bracket 34 by screws 2I8. Heat is transferred from the unit 204 to the tool 20 by direct radiation to the under surface of the tool, by radiation to the hub I99 and thence by conduction to the operative portion of the tool, and also by convection induced by the blower efiect of the rapidly rotating tool. The under surface of the tool, by frictional engagement with the adjacent air. will cause this air to rotate and to be thrown tangentially thereby creating a suction which draws air through the annular passageway between the hub I99 and the inner surface of the heating unit 204. The blower effect of the tool is more pronounced in the case of a tool which, as shown herein, is slotted radially, the air within the narrow radial slots being caused to rotate positively with the same angular velocity as the tool itself and thereby setting up a relatively strong suction.

It will be noted that the entry of cold air from above is blocked by the washer 202. The direction of the currents of heated air is indicated by arrows on Fig. 6.

The operation of the machine will now be explained. A sole S (Fig. 7) is placed upon the work 'table 26 in engagement with the edge gage 24 and the too1 20 or 20'. The direction of rotation of the tool and the direction of feed of the work are' indicated by arrows. As thework piece is introduced under the feed wheel 22 the feed wheel rises to the extent of the thickness of the work piece. The rotation ofthe feed wheel not only advances thevwork piece past the, tool but also holds the periphery of the work piece against both the edge gage and the tool. The obliquity of the teeth of the feed wheel enables the work piece to slip relatively to the teeth, thereby avoiding a positive feeding action against the tool which might, in the case of very pointed toes or narrow heels, result in gouging out the surface of the sole. The c'uts'made by the feed wheel teeth in the flesh surface of the sole S are indicated by the reference character C. The force with which the sole is' pressed against the tool depends upon the pressure of the feed wheel against the sole. This pressure is derived from the spring I24 and also for the thicker portions of the sole from both.

springs I24 and I26. As the feed roll rises in response to variations in thicknessofthe work piece it will cause the head I52 of the screw I50 to engage the plunger I38 thereby adding the force of the spring I26 to that of the spring I24.

cause the margin of the sole to buckle or curl,

over. Accordingly, when the thinner portion of the sole is reached, the feed wheel drops sufii- Ola/1111335 thew and: desire to 'securaby; LettersRate 6 $1:

entrgofi the :United-Btates is-z- 1=.;In a machine. for-..- operating; on: shoe so1es,; a supportior-a soIe-, a.-.member-: engageable. with; the periphery oftheisole; afeeding deviceioperat-r inauuonrthe upper face of. thesole. toyadivancemhe; sole;and also :to press .the;soleragainstisaid .app i nha ery riezteeable,member, meantime, holding; saigL. feedin rdevice downragainstitheupper faceofi-the. sole; a;, spr-ing, and 111694118 responsive togtheilocal; thiokness-iofi-the s01e:f0r--imposinguponisaidiieed-g ing;device.--an .additionalzdownward pressura-oa; rivedi from said: sprin thereby; increasin the.- pressure between the sole .and. the .-periphery;en.-; gageable 1' member, .at. those; portions of. the sole which are relatively thick=..

2: Inaai machine foroperatingmn shoersolesiai. supportIor-a so1e-,- a member engageablawithpthe, p rip e y f e' sol z a; feeding. device operating-i: uponathe upper: face-on the.- sole to 1 advance vthe h solev andaiso to;- press-the sole against... said pe riphery engageabie member; said: feeding device. being moun-ted.to. rise;-and.f.al14-in' accordancewith variationsin-thaloca'l thicknessof; thaworkipieceg. asp ing. constructed and. arranged to. pressisaid.

prising a work. tab1e;..a; t o] operable. uponrthe...

periphery. or a sole' -on the...work-.table,. a fe. d.

wheel engeeeablawith pp r face.o.f.the sole: onpthe work. table: for adyancing theusolewand also pressing pe ipher i 0ft thev soleagainst. 1

said tool,.a .c.arrier for said feed wheelmountedl for. risingiandlialling movement orthe. feedwheel; l 1m accordance with. local variations, in. the..thic.1-;-

ness; of. theysole a.v pair. of compression springs,

wheel;down ag ainsti the; sole, I means for,;-lirniti .ently for eachaspring, thereby enabling theJiIr iting means. 5170. he. so. adiustediasito. permit; one! spring. to followw the feed wheel. carrier. througheout. its -ful1 rang obrising and. falling. movement f 1 andito-apermit the other. spring to .follow. the feed... wheel carrier: throughout only: the-upper portion off. the range-10f rising. and falling -movementi of;

the. feedzwhee-l. carrier, 'andna. stop enga eable. with. the feed. wheel; carriervtdlimitextreme downward movements-0f the feed wheel carriery and thereby to.- prevent contact of the-.feed -Wheelv.

with the;work table-invtheabsenceofnasole; 6. In: at machine; for. operating; onshoe-soles;

comprising. a; tooL- operable upon the, periphery of; asole,- a; frame, a-v driving; member supported;

feeding device. downpagainstithe; uppezaface ofe moby; said frame; driving; connectionsfrom/said theis le; .aiseoond sp n constructed and-arranged; to. impose additional pressure upon; the; feeding:

device; and means?fomlimitingtheFaction ofa-Jthe;

second spring. ta those-portions of theisolewwhichedrivingymember toasaids tool, a work feeding der vice constructed anduarrangedxto advance asoleaand. also to hold: the-periphery of the sole against saidff OOh; amt-a common. support for saidetool are relatively'thick and -for preventinggthaseeondu 5sand-(said workzfeeding device; said C0mm0n Sup2- spring frem imposing its additional pressure whens the feeding device engages portions. of.--:the-.so1.ewhich-tare relativelyz thin 3.,In. a machine. for. operating; on shoe -solesa. a;:,.wor-k-\ tabla, a. member-r engageable with th'a periphery of asolemn-said work table aifeed-i. wheel, engageable: withathe upperrfaceiofitheesolei onthesworktable for.- advancing. the sole-andalso pressin x the sole againstzsaidtoola.- carrien.. fou said feedv Wheel mounted for; rising. and:- falling; movement or the feed .wheel in..;accordance with 1 I loealivafl-ations.inithethicknessaoi. thetsele,=,y ie1( l-.sv

able..means-. actingon. the, carriezmto; hold. the. feed; wheehdownupon the sole; and-yieldable,means: engageablewith. thecarrier as, the. carrierrzmoyesi upwardly. intozthe upper. range of.. its risingandi failingmovement to.v cause thefeedwheel. tosb'eari withv additional pressure upon relatively thicki portions; .of. the sole, .thez-second. mentioned-.-. yielde-r able means being disengageable. fromsthe. carriers as .the carrier moves, downwardlyinto'i-itselowerrrangeof. r-ising. .and falling movement;

4.4'A .machinesfor operating on'.1shoe.=sQies-;com;-g- I prising. a work. tab1e,=. a tool. operab upDn-afihfie.

periphery of Jasole onthe workutabie, .a ieed wheele v v engageable with. theupper. facegofythee soleom.

the,work table, said feed. wheel. being;v mounted for, rising: and falling :movement ,in: accordance with local variations'iimthe thickness 0f;,. th e-.so1ea;

for. ti g, the expansion 01",. one: of 'saiduspringsg and. thereby. relieving, thelfeed. wheel aofgthe presz sure. of 1,.that spring, when, thei feed'; wheel .jsa n latively. low D0sitiQn-.l.by.:.- reason. oi;;its...enea ment .withua. relativelyithiirportionpflthesolei.

5...;A machine; for operating onzshoesolescpme *the. peripherytorthesole-against the tool, axioms" port being;mounted-.-on.-said frame with provision; for; adjustment toward; and from-said driving-.1

member. -;toiaccommodate driving connections 50f greater-onless -speed-ratio,- the; Work feedingdei- 9: 1 vice-anolthetool being,- maintainedina-v prederterminedrrelation; .notwithstanding such adjuste ment, .by reason. of: their beingcarriedbycsaidh commonsupportfl.

comprisingt. a. toolop erable. upon; the. periphery 0112346501 aeirame; aydriving .member S1.lpPorted:- by; said; frame,; driving-connections from. said.1

driving;member to .saidtool, a..,Wor,ktable; a: feed I wheel. for advancing a sole and also for-holding.

mon' support for said t0o1,.saidfeed wheel, and;

said=.work.- table-, said... common support... being; mounted-on said. frame with provision. for-ade-= justmentv toward and from said driving ..member to, accommodate. driving. connections of; greater.

or.flefss..spe e.djratio whilethe tool; thework table-,5.

and. theifeed. wheel. are maintained'in 'pred termined. relation, notwithstanding. such; adjust L ment, by, reason of their. being-carried by saidc0mmon.;support, and driving connecti0ns. fr lm said;.driving. member. to. said. feed wheelco'ne stmeted. and. arranged to accommodateadjustg I ment. of; the; common support: toward: and-fromi the;driving..mean's..-

8... Ainachineffor. operating. on shoe. soles com -7 prisinglaswork. table; a: tool. operable upon the; periphery.;.of.,a.soleon theWorktable, a-feedi;wheel engageablewith theupper face of the sole on the; work...tah1e.i'or advancing; the sole andalso .press.,-,-= ing' :the I peripheryv of the sole against said .-t0 01-,-.,

a. shaft. on... which. said. feed wheel is-mountedaf' means; 'for-.- driying. "said-.Jshaft, av carrier; in: whichr said shaft is -journaled .forrotation, a bracket; on which isaidh arrien. isetrunnionedi for; risina an'd fallins -movementofi the ,feedwheeliina aordancee with local variations in the thickness of the sole, REFERENCES CITED zfii figg Eggs? zzzfi i gf g g g i g ii g 355 The following references are of record in the port upon which said carrier is pivotally mounted of tins patent for angular adjustment to enable the feed wheel 5 UNITED TA S PATENTS to be moved from an operating position close to Number Name Date the tool to an out-of-the-way position removed 1,838,812 Dow Dec 29 1931 from the tool to facilitate removal an replace- 1,980,376 Brostrom NOV. 1934 ment of the tool. 2,094,120 Fossa, Sept. 28, 1937 EUGENE J. RAY. l0 

